Part II: Using Electronegativity

As a general rule, ionic bonds form between metals and nonmetals, while covalent bonds form between two nonmetals. However, the bonds actually form based upon the element's electronegativity, or the element's ability to attract electron pairs. There are some generalized guidelines using electronegativity to predict what type of bonds $($if any$)$ will be formed between different elements.

To use these guidelines, you will need to look at the difference in electronegativities for the two elements interacting. Using the chart below, you can predict what characteristics the bond is likely to have and therefore categorize the compound as either ionic or covalent.

$\backslash$table$[[$Electronegativity and Bonding Characteristics$],[$Difference in Electronegativities,Bond Characteristics$],[$Greater than $1\mathrm{.}7,$Mostly ionic$],[0-1\mathrm{.}7,$Mostly covalent$]]$

Using these guidelines and the periodic table below with electronegativities, determine which ionic compounds are most likely to form using the cards from Part $1.$

Electronegativity Values

$3.$ Write down four different ionic compounds that could form, and indicate why they are ionic based on the electronegativity differences.